Candle holder



June 13, 1961 M. A. COFFEY 2,987,901

CANDLE HOLDER Filed July 27, 1959 H I9 .6 I I 1 Z i .7. I i i l0 1 1 a v a f 7 INVEMTOR MICHAEL A. CQFFEY b gw 9,60% m,

Unite States Patent '0 2,987,901 CANDLE HOLDER Michael A. Coffey, 303 S. 7th St., Pekin, 11]. Filed July 27, 1959, Ser. No. 829,680 4 Claims. (CI. 67-23) This invention relates to improvements in a candle holder and refers particularly to pivotal means provided in the holder for maintaining a candle in a true vertical position. 7

In candle holders heretofore proposed difliculty has been encountered in retaining a candle in a vertical position within the holder, and especially so when the base of the candle holder is not seated on a true horizontal plane. in such instances it becomes necessary to manually adjust the candle in the holder to a vertical position by means of set screws and the like, which is time consuming, and in the event the holder is moved to an uneven surface further manipulation of the candle is necessary to set it in a vertical position.

The present invention contemplates ball and socket pivotal means embodied in a candle holder for holding a candle in a vertical position regardless of the plane on which the base of the holder may be resting and without the necessity of any manual adjustment of the candle.

Another object of the present invention resides in a candle holder which is simple in construction and operation.

Other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will be apparent from the accompanying drawings and following detailed description.

In the drawings,

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of the device embodying the present invention, parts being shown in elevation.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view illustrating a modified form of ball and socket joint employed in the device.

Referring in detail to the drawings, '1 indicates a candle holder which may be constructed of metal, or the like, which comprises a hollow comically-shaped base 2, the upper rim of which is up-turned and vertically inclined as at 3. A hollow comically-shaped cap 4 is supported in superimposed position on the base 2, being frictionally seated on the up-turned section 3 the latter of which nests in a notch 5 extending around the base of cap 4, the communicating base and cap providing a hollow interior.

Cap 4 is provided with a ball race 6 extending around the lower inner circumference thereof for the reception of ball bearings 7, which acts as a socket to provide pivot means for a candle holder as will be later described.

A candle holding tube 8 may be centrally disposed within the hollow portion of the holder 1, extending through the base 2 and cap 4. The tube 8 is adapted for the telescopic reception of a candle and is provided with a cap 9 and a closed lower end 27. A counterweight 13 is positioned within the tube adjacent said closed lower end to act as a counterpoise for the tube, as will be later described. A coil spring 10 of suitable strength is also positioned in said tube 8 bearing upon the counterweight 13 at the lower end and against a candle (not shown) at the opposite end to resiliently urge the candle upwardly against the cap 9. An annular male ball member 11 may circumscribe the tube 8 intermediate its length and may be fastened thereto by means of a set screw, or the like, 12.

With the above arrangement, the tube 8 may be insorted into the hollow center of the holder 1 until the male ball member 11 reaches a point adjacent the ball race 6, where it will rest on ball bearings 7 which forms a female socket for the reception thereof. An annular holder member 14 is fitted into a notch 15 and extends Patented June 13, 1961 around the inner circumference of the cap 4 immediately above the race 6. When the tube 8 is positioned in this manner the ball bearings 7 will form a socket in which the male ball member 11 may slide and pivot.

When the device is assembled in the manner described above it will be apparent that, regardless of the plane on which the bottom of housing 1 may be placed, the tube 8 will always assume a true vertical position due to the action of the counterweight 13 rockingthe tube in the ball and socket joint to such position. Also, regardless of the length of the candle in the tube 8, the counterweight will always act at a fixed distance below the ball and socket joint.

In FIG. 2 a modified form of pivotal means is shown, and similar reference numerals used in FIG. 1 refer to similar parts. The base 2 and cap 4 may be associated in the same manner as shown in FIG. 1. The bottom of cap 4 is slightly enlarged to provide an annular inwardly extending section 16. An annular ring 17 abuts and lies upon the inner face of section 16 and is held in place thereon by means of outwardly extending lugs 18 resting on an abutment 19 formed on the top of section 16. The inner face of the ring 17 is dished, as at 20, to form a female socket for the reception of a male ball member 21. The member 21 encircles a candle holding tube 22 and may be secured thereto by means of a set screw, or the like, 23. The dimension of the member 21 is such that a slight clearance 24 is provided between the concave surface 20 of the ring 17 and the convex surface 25 of the member 21. When in place, the top of the member 21 will be in a lower plane than the top of ring 17 thereby providing a recess 26 within which suitable lubricant (not shown) may be placed. The lubricant will tend to seep into the clearance or interstices 24 to form a lubricating cushion on which the male ball member 21 may ride and slide within the socket formed by the ring 17. In view of the lubricated condition of the ball and socket joint, the tube 22 may be readily swung to a vertical position by means of the counterweight at the bottom thereof regardless of the plane on which the base of the holder may be resting.

It will be apparent to anyone skilled in the art that variations of the present invention may be made which do not depart from the spirit of the invention and, hence, it is not intended that the present invention be limited to the exact details shown and described except as necessitated by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A candle holder, comprising a hollow base and a hollow cap, said cap being frictionally engaged with and supported in superimposed position on said base with the hollow interiors thereof in communication, the jointure of the base and cap forming a throat in the interior thereof of equal diameter throughout, a detachable hollow candle-receiving member extending through the hollow interiors of said base and cap in substantially coaxial relation with the throat, a detachable annular male ball member circumscribing the candle-receiving member and attached thereto substantially in the center thereof, a ball race extending around the lower inner circumference of the cap, ball bearing carried in said race, a holder member extending around the inner circumference of the cap adjacent the ball race and overlapping the ball bearings, said male ball member resting on top of the ball bearings and supported thereby, and a weight carried within said candle-receiving member below said male ball member.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said hollow base and hollow cap are cone-shaped.

3. A candle holder, comprising a hollow base and a hollow cap, said cap being frictionally engaged with 3, and supported in superimposed position on said base with the hollow interiors thereof in communication, the jointure of the base and cap forming a throat in the interior thereof of equal diameter throughout, a detachable hollow candle-receiving member extending through the hollow interiors of said base and cap in substantially co-axial relation with the throat, a detachable annular male ball member provided with a flat top circumscribing the candle-receiving member and attached thereto substantially in the center thereof, a comically-shaped inwardly extending enlarged section at the base of the cap, an annular socket member supported by said enlarged section, said male ball member resting in the socket and loosely supported therein, the top of said socket member extending annularly in a plane above said male ball memher and inclined therefrom when the parts are in ball and socket position to provide a space for the reception of a lubricant, and a weight carried within said candle-receiving member below said male ball member.

4. A device as claimed in claim 3 wherein said hollow base and hollow cap are cone-shaped.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 479,362 Hamrick July 19, 1892 1,623,427 Manrock Apr. 5, 1927 2,697,927 Ferdman Dec. 28, 1954 

